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Vietnam War: Decades of Conflict and Controversy

Explore the turbulent era of the Vietnam War from 1945 to 1973, delving into the complex dynamics of communist insurgency, colonial resistance, US intervention, and societal upheavals. Witness the evolution of warfare strategies, political tensions, and the profound impact on global perspectives through a detailed examination of key events and players during this tumultuous period.

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Vietnam War: Decades of Conflict and Controversy

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  1. Indochina after World War II 1945-1965

  2. Vietnamese War- continuous warfare for 35 years • 1945 Colony returned to France • Ho Chi Minh- communist or nationalist? • US supports French

  3. Early U.S. involvement in Vietnam • Restoration of French colonial power • Ho Chi Minh • Domino Theory • Dien Bien Phu- French Defeat-General Giap

  4. 1954 Geneva Convention: Vietnam split in two • Communist North Vietnam is led by Ho Chi Minh • Democratic South Vietnam • Ngo Dinh Diem • Vietcong communist rebels in the south

  5. Tonkin Gulf Resolution 1964 • Was there an attack on U.S. ships? • Congress gives “Blank check” to President to fight war

  6. Colonial Consensus • American ignorance • MacCarthyism • Vietnamese divisions • City v country • Elites v peasants • Colonialism v nationalism

  7. US fears based on Domino Theory • 1954-French crushed at battle of Bien DienPhu • 1954 Geneva Conference calls for free elections

  8. U.S. Escalation • Kennedy: advisors • SEATO • Johnson’s dilemma-Great Society held hostage by ‘softness” on Cold War

  9. Vietnam War 1965-1973

  10. 1965 Operation Rolling Thunder • Secretary of Defense-Robert McNamara • U.S. Commander in Vietnam-William Westmoreland

  11. Unconventional Warfare • Ho Chi Minh-”never fight on you enemy’s terms” • Guerilla War • Hit-and-run • Booby-traps • Night raids • Just who is the enemy?

  12. U.S. Response • Napalm • Agent Orange • Relocation (pacification) of villages

  13. 1967-Stalemate • 30, 000 U.S. casualties • World Opinion • War on T.V. • Body counts • Immediacy of modern war • Troop Morale

  14. Cost of Unpopular War • Modern war = $$$ • Taxes • Social programs cut • Congress- Hawks v Doves

  15. Colleges Center Of Antiwar Sentiment • Students for a Democratic Society • Credibility Gap between Gov’t and news

  16. The Draft • College Deferments • Racially disproportionate

  17. Turning Point:1969 TetOffensive • U.S. wins • North Vietnam shows it’s here to stay

  18. 1968 Presidential Campaign • Democrats turn on Johnson • Eugene McCarthy –peace candidate • Robert F Kennedy • Johnson does not run

  19. 1968 Summer of Violence • Assassinations of MLK and RFK • Democratic National Convention in Chicago • Richard Nixon-”Peace with Honor”

  20. Vietnamization • Get the troops out • Bomb the North into submission • Make a deal to save South Vietnamese independence

  21. After Effects of War

  22. Three Images …

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